Tiered Service-Delivery Model
Special Education: Tertiary Interventions

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In some RTI models, special education services are provided to students with intensive needs who are not adequately responding to high-quality interventions in Tier 1 and Tier 2 and beyond. Decisions about students' specific instructional needs are based in part on a student's lack of responsiveness to effective instruction. Eligibility decisions also are informed by individualized, comprehensive evaluations to determine the specific nature and presence of a learning disability. Special education is a data-based, individualized, iterative intervention.

Interventions in special education must be designed to meet the specific learning and behavioral needs of the student, implemented on a timely basis, provided by a highly qualified teacher or specialist, and monitored to determine progress and achievement of desired outcomes.

Special education features

Size of instructional group. Special education instruction is provided to individual students or small groups.

Mastery requirements of content. Special education programs, strategies, and procedures are designed and employed to supplement, enhance, and support Tier 1 and Tier 2 and beyond instruction by remediation of the relevant area and development of compensatory strategies. Mastery is relative to the student's functioning and determined by individualized education program (IEP) goal setting and through results of comprehensive evaluation.

Frequency of progress monitoring. Continuous progress monitoring informs the teaching process.

Duration of the intervention. Special education instruction likely will be considerably longer than the 10 to 12 weeks of supplemental instruction delivered in Tier 2 and beyond.

Frequency with which the intervention is delivered. The frequency of special education instruction depends upon student need.

Instructor qualifications. Special education teachers deliver the instruction.

Exit criteria. Exit criteria are specified and monitored so that placement is flexible.